Hibiscus plant named ‘MINSYBLE9’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct Hibiscus cultivar named ‘MINSYBLE9’ is disclosed, characterized by large, dark violet-blue flower with a deep red basal blotch. Flower buds are uniquely dark Violet-Blue. Plants are erect and well branched. The new variety is a Hibiscus, normally produced as an outdoor garden or container plant.

Latin name of the genus and species: Hibiscus syriacus.

Variety denomination: ‘MINSYBLE9’

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new Hibiscus cultivar is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the inventor, Patrick Pineau. The objective of the breedingprogram was to look for a new dark blue large flower with healthyfoliage. The cross resulting in this new variety was made during 2009.

The seed parent is the unpatented proprietary Hibiscus syriacus referredto as ‘11647’. The pollen parent is the unpatented Hibiscus syriacus‘Minultra’. The new variety was identified and selected as a potentiallyinteresting selection in September 2012. Selection was made at acommercial nursery in La Menitre, Maine Et Loire, France.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar ‘MINSYBLE9’ was first performedin January 2013 in La Menitre, Maine Et Loire, France, by graftingsemi-hardwood cuttings onto common rootstock. Subsequent propagation hasshown that the unique features of this cultivar are stable andreproduced true to type in 6 successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘MINSYBLE9’ has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, day length, and lightintensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘MINSYBLE9’ These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘MINSYBLE9’ as a new and distinct Hibiscuscultivar:

-   -   1. Dark violet blue flower.    -   2. Very deep blue flower bud.    -   3. Erect plant form.    -   4. Well branched plants.    -   5. Dark green foliage.

PARENT COMPARISON

Plants of the new cultivar ‘MINSYBLE9’ are similar to plants of the seedparent variety in most horticultural characteristics, however, plants ofthe new cultivar ‘MINSYBLE9’ differ in the following;

-   -   1. ‘Minsyble9’ is more vigorous and produces more branches than        the seed parent.    -   2. ‘Minsyble9’ has a larger and flatter flower than the seed        parent.    -   3. ‘Minsyble9’ has a dark violet blue flower, compared to the        purple flower of the seed parent.    -   4. ‘Minsyble9’ produces a dark blue bud flower, flower buds of        the seed parent are violet.    -   5. ‘Minsyble9’ has a dark violet basal blotch on petal, the seed        parent produces a red basal blotch.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘MINSYBLE9’ are similar to plants of thepollen parent variety in most horticultural characteristics, however,plants of the new cultivar ‘MINSYBLE9’ differ in the following;

-   -   1. ‘Minsyble9’ is more vigorous and produces more branches than        the pollen parent.    -   2. ‘Minsyble9’ has darker violet blue flowers than pollen        parent.    -   3. ‘Minsyble9’ has a dark blue bud flower, compared to the        medium blue bud of the pollen parent.    -   4. ‘Minsyble9’ has a dark violet basal blotch on the petal, the        pollen parent has a red-violet basal blotch.    -   5. ‘Minsyble9’ has a dark blue edge blush on the petal, the        pollen parent has a light blue petal margin.    -   6. Petal arrangement of ‘Minsyble9’ is very overlapping,        compared to slighting overlapping petals of the pollen parent.

COMMERCIAL COMPARISON

Plants of the new cultivar ‘MINSYBLE9’ can be compared to the varietyHibiscus ‘Minsygrb11’, unpatented. These varieties are similar in mosthorticultural characteristics however, ‘MINSYBLE9’ differs in thefollowing:

-   -   1. ‘Minsyble9’ has a darker violet blue flower than        ‘Minsygrb11’.    -   2. ‘Minsyble9’ has a dark blue bud flower, compared to the        medium blue flower bud of ‘Minsygrb11’.    -   3. ‘Minsyble9’ has a smaller sized flower than ‘Minsygrb11’.    -   4. ‘Minsyble9’ has more attractive green foliage than        ‘Minsygrb11’ during the all the Summer season.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photograph in FIG. 1 illustrates in full color typicalflowers of ‘MINSYBLE9’.

FIG. 2 illustrates in full color a typical flower and bud of‘MINSYBLE9’.

Age of the plant photographed is approximately 2 years. The photographswere taken using conventional techniques and although colors may appeardifferent from actual colors due to light reflectance it is as accurateas possible by conventional photographic techniques.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart 2015, 6^(th) edition, except wheregeneral terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. Thefollowing observations and measurements describe ‘MINSYBLE9’ plantsgrown outdoors in La Minetre, France under natural lighting.Measurements were taken during the Summer of 2018. The plants wereapproximately 3 years old planted in the ground. The growing temperatureranged from approximately −5° C. to 32° C. Measurements and numericalvalues represent averages of typical plant types.

-   Botanical classification: Hibiscus syriacus ‘MINSYBLE9’

PROPAGATION

-   Time to Initiate Roots: 20 days at approximately 25° C.-   Root Description: Fibrous, medium root thickness. Tan/brown in    color, not effectively measured with a color chart.

PLANT

-   Plant type: Perennial shrub.-   Age of Plant Described: Approximately 3 years old.-   Growth Habit: Erect deciduous flowering shrub.-   Height: About 100 cm.-   Spread: About 35 cm.-   Length of Primary Lateral Branches: 90 cm.-   Quantity of Lateral Branches: 8.-   Characteristics of Primary Lateral Branches:    -   -   Diameter.—4 mm.        -   Color.—RHS Yellow-Green 147C.-   Internode length: 5 cm.

FOLIAGE

-   Leaf:    -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate.        -   Quantity.—Approximately 25 per branch.        -   Average Length.—9 cm.        -   Average Width.—6 cm.        -   Shape of blade.—Ovate.        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Base.—Obtuse.        -   Margin.—Crenate.        -   Texture of top surface.—Glabrous.        -   Texture of bottom surface.—Rough.        -   Color: Young foliage upper side: RHS Green 137D. Young            foliage under side: RHS Green 137D. Mature foliage upper            side: RHS Green 137B. Mature foliage under side: RHS Green            137C.        -   Venation.—Type: Pinnate. Venation color upper side: RHS            Green 137A. Venation color under side: RHS Green 137A.        -   Petiole.—Length: 1.4 cm. Diameter: 0.15 cm. Color: RHS            Yellow-Green 147C.

FLOWER

-   Natural flowering season: July to September.-   Flower type and habit: Solitary, rotate.    -   -   Single, double, multiplex.—Single.        -   Petals overlapping.—Very overlapping.-   Rate of flower opening: 1 to 2 days from bud to fully opened flower.-   Flower Longevity on Plant: 1 to 2 days.-   Persistent or Self-Cleaning: Self-cleaning.-   Bud:    -   -   Shape.—Ovate.        -   Length.—3 cm.        -   Diameter.—1.5 cm.        -   Color.—RHS Violet-Blue N92A.-   Flower size:    -   -   Diameter.—10 cm.        -   Depth.—3 cm.-   Petals:    -   -   Quantity.—5.        -   Arrangement.—Rotate.        -   Length.—5 cm.        -   Width.—6 cm.        -   Shape.—Orbicular to broad deltate.        -   Apex.—Rounded, very slightly undulate.        -   Base.—Obovate.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Glabrous.        -   Color.—Fully opened, upper and lower surfaces: RHS            Violet-Blue 92A to 93C with edge blush Violet-Blue 93B.            Color basal blotch: RHS Violet-Blue N79A. Ratio of basal            blotch/petal size: 1/3. Feathering color: RHS Violet-Blue            N79A. Feathering size: 1.5 to 2 cm and abundant.-   Sepals:    -   -   Quantity.—4 to 5.        -   Length.—2 cm.        -   Width.—1 cm.        -   Shape.—Ovate.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Color.—RHS Green 138A.-   Peduncles:    -   -   Length.—4 cm.        -   Diameter.—0.3 cm.        -   Angle.—About 45° to the lateral branch.        -   Strength.—Strong.        -   Texture.—Slightly pubescent.        -   Color.—RHS Green 138A.-   Fragrance: None.

REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

-   Stamens:    -   -   Number.—50.-   Anthers:    -   -   Shape.—Dorsifixed, broad kidney-shaped.        -   Length.—0.3 cm.        -   Pollen color.—RHS Yellow 4D.        -   Pollen amount.—Abundant.-   Pistil:    -   -   Number.—1.        -   Length.—3.5 cm.        -   Style.—Length: 3 cm. Color: Near RHS White 155C.        -   Stigma.—Color: Near RHS White 155C.

OTHER CHARACTERISTICS

-   Seeds and fruits: Moderate quantity of flat crescent seeds. About 5    mm long, 3 mm wide. Color: RHS Greyed-Brown 199C.-   Disease/pest resistance: Neither resistance nor susceptibility to    normal diseases and pests of Hibiscus syriacus have been observed.-   Temperature tolerance: Low temperature tolerance to at least USDA    Zone 4, high temperature tolerance to at least 40° C.

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Hibiscus plantnamed ‘MINSYBLE9’ as herein illustrated and described.